Be it known that I, EVAN J. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Prosser, in the county of Benton and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in- Decoys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in decoys for use by sportsmen in hunting wild geese and ducks. As is well known, in the use of decoys of the type that are constructed of relatively thin boards, or other material, while a side view of the decoy is liable to deceive the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 7, 1909.

fowls, an edge view has no appearance whatever of the natural bird.

It frequently happens in the use of a decoy of this type, that when geese, for instance, are flying at any considerable elevation, toward the decoy, the decoy will presently disappear as soon the geese fly over the decoy, as they will see nothing but the thin edge of the decoy. This naturally excites suspicion and defeats the purpose for which the decoys are designed.

With a knowledge of these conditions, my invention has for its primary object an improved folding decoy, which in its folded condition will occupy very little space for carrying or shipment, butwhen set up for use will simulate the appearance of a goose or other fowl, not only in side elevation but in top plan View, thereby avoiding the disadvantages above pointed out and tending to effectually deceive the game.

\Vith this and other objects in view, as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, theinvention consists essentially in a decoy, the body of which comprises a vertically extending portion and a wing portion so connected with the vertically extending portion that it will tend to assume a perpendicular relation thereto, or be folded up to lie fiat thereagainst.

The invention also consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a decoy constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. l

Patented Dec. 6, 1910. Serial No. 516,339.

3 is a perspective view of some of the parts detached from each other, and Figs. 4c and 5 are edge views showing the parts in open and folded position respectively.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

The body of my improved decoy comprises a relatively vertical or main portion 1 cut to simulate the body of a goose, for instance, when the same is viewed from the side, and a wing portion 2 which is shaped and painted to simulate the back and wing portion of the game when viewed from above. The wing portion 2 of the decoy preferably comprises two separately formed segmental sections a and Z), connected together at any desired intervals longitudinally of their adjacent straight edges by transversely extending connecting strips 3, riveted or otherwise secured thereto, as clearly illustrated in the drawing. The strips 3 are mounted in slots 4: formed in the main portion 1 of the device and the connecting strips are offset intermediate of their ends as indicated at 5, so that the wing sections a and b may be spread out to assume a horizontal position relative to the main portion 1 and be folded against the opposite sides of such portion 1 when moved in the direction 'of the dotted lines in Fig. 4.

Preferably the wing b is somewhat heavier than the wing at so that the wing portion 2 will always tend to assume a horizontal position and maintain such position when permitted to turn over, the offset portions 5 of the connecting strips 3, obviously limiting the opening movement of the wing portion of the device when the same has reached a perpendicular relation to the other portion 1.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very simple construction of decoy, which will simulate the appearance of the game not only from the side, but when viewed from the top, and one that is composed of but comparatively few parts that may be folded up into a comparatively small space when not in use.

It is to be understood that various changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and proportion of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Any type of construction of neck or head may be provided, such as. the pivoted neck. and head indicated at 6, and any construction or arrangement of stake may be used, such as that indicated at .7, as these features purposeset forth.

in themselves form no part of the present invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is l. A decoy, the body of which comprises a relatively vertical main portion formed with slots extending transversely therethrough, two wingsections arranged on the.

opposite sides of said main portion and extending longitudinally thereof, and connecti'ng strips secured to said wing sections and passing through said slots, said strips rigidly connecting said wing sections together,

as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture a decoy, the body of which comprises a relatively verticalmain portion formedwith a plurali ty of slotsextending therethroug h, wing sections arranged on opposite sides of said main portion and connecting strips secured to said Wing sect-ions and passing through said slots, -said connecting strips bein offset intermediate of their ends as and for the 3. A decoy, the body of which comprises a relatively Vertical main portion formed with a plurality of slots extending transversely therethrough, wing sections arranged on opposite sides of said main portion, and connecting strips securing said wing sections together in rigid relation to each other and passing through said slots, said connecting strips being off-set intermediate oftheir ends, and one of said wings ibeirng heavier than the other, as and for the purpose set forth,

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two: Witnesses.